Container



March 2, 1948.

F. R. CURTISS CONTAINER Filed July 11, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 4 s 4., A .^-v -5 S 2 5 n ww 3 5 l y C A F.Zw 4. w d. -L .mR 4L o v /J n mk 83 n v 2 Y a liIlIl/ln 3 7. F 9 2 2 March, 2, 1948. F, R UR-|155 I 2,437,079

CONTAINER Filed July 11, 1944 -2 Sneets-shet 2 Figi! 1:29.10 l INS/ENTOR Frank R. Curzz'ss ff f TToRNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Frank R. Curtiss, New Haven, Conn.

Y .apprit-ation July 11, 1944, serial No. 544,351

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers and has particular relation to a folded container of cardboard, fibre board or the like that is blanked from a sheet and may be sold and shipped in a at condition but may be easily and quickly set up for use.

An object of the invention is to provide a container especially adapted for the shipment of merchandise, as via parcel post, and which when closed requires no outsideY wrapping and yet is effectively sealed against pilfering and effectively encloses and protects any merchandise packed therein.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingA drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. While the drawings show the invention in detail and certain features are particularly described and pointed out in the specification it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the' invention and the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings-'- Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating a blank from which the container of the invention is to be formed, the blank being of cardboard, fibre board', or the like;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View illustrating a suggested first step in setting up the container for use;

Fig. 3 is a simila;1 view illustrating a suggested second step in setting up the container, the same being now ready to receive merchandise;

Fig. 4 is an. elevational view taken at right ,angles to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the container as in Fig. 3 but with the insidetop flaps and the top or 'cover pressed open;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken as along the line 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken as along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the scale of Fig. 6 showing a step in the securing of the top or cover of the container in closed and container sealing position;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken as along the plane of the line I0--I0 of Fig. 9 but with the 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-16) 2 securing tabs more fully inserted through their slits; and

Fig. 11 is a further enlarged detail sectional view showing one of the locking tabs in locked position.

Referring in detail to the drawings thecontainer blank generally designated I0, and shown flat in Fig. 1, comprises a main body portion II and a pair of wing portions I2 and I3 located one midway each longitudinal edge of portion II. Body portion II includes a series of sections or panels I4, I5, I6, I1 and I3 which when the container is formed comprise, respectively, the back wall, bottom wall, top wall, inner front wall and outer front wall thereof. Thus it will be understood that the body I I is to be folded on each of the dotted lines I3, 20, 2l and 22.

Wing portion I2 includes an end panel 23, an

inner bottom flap 24, an inner top flap 25 and an inner front ap 25. Correspondingly wing portion I3 includes an end panel 2l, an inner bottom flap 28, an inner top ap 29 and an inner front flap 30. The bottom aps 24 and 28 each have an edge portion cut away as at 3l to provide space for the initial movement toward locking positions of a lpair of locking tabs as will be set forth. i

Flaps 26 and` 30 are provided with L-shaped slits 32 and 33, respectively, and the purpose of these slits will appear. .The end portions of wall I1 are shaped and the wall is lanced at 34 to define or provide apair of locking tabs 35 and 36 designed to be passed through the slits 32 and 33, respectively, as will be described. Integral with (although they may be separately formed and attached) the free longitudinal edge of the wall I8 are a pair of similar locking tabs 3'I and 38 each including a head 39 and a neck portion 40 whereby a shoulder 4I is formed, the neck portions being of a length approximately equal to the thickness of the stock from which the container is being made.

These tabs 3'I and 38 are adapted to be folded relative to the wall I3 as on the dotted lines 42. Additionally flaps 24, 25 and 26 of wing I2 are adapted to be folded along the dotted lines 43, 44 and 45 while the flaps 28, 29 and 3l] of wing I3 are adapted to be folded along the dotted lines 46, 41 and 48, respectively. and the wings I2 and I3 are adapted to be folded on the dotted lines 49 and 50. A11 the various fold lines, indicated by gularly related or arcuate portion, the overal] length of each of these slits being equal to the greatest width of one of the tabs 31 and 38.

The setting up of the container from the blank I8 need follow no precise sequence of steps. A 5 suggested procedure is to fold the iiaps 24, 25 and 26 of Wing I2 and the flaps 28, 29 and 38 of wing I3 into right angular relationship with the ends 23and\21cfzgtheerespective wings.Y Then the partly` foldedwings may be folded on the 10 respective lines 49 and 58 to swing the wings into the zone of the back wall I4. This positions the' parts as in Fig. 2. Y i

Next the bottom wall I5 is folded on itsline to dispose it under or at the outer side ofj-the I5 inner bottom aps 24 and 28 and is again Ffolded` on the line 2| to dispose the wa`1lI1-at` the oii'ter-v sides of the inner front aps 2B and 304 -jAsfthe s walls I5 and I1 are sofolded into positions the tabs` 35 and 36 on the wall I1 or of such wall, are 20 inserted through the "L-shaped slits"32 and 33, respectively, in such r inner front flaps '26"'an'd '30"thus bringing thel parts to" the' r'elati nships 'in which they aresh'o'wn' in Fig. 1 The container is now ready to receive mer- 25 chandise although the wall I8 may at "thistirne be' folded oni'ts'fold line 22 andthelocking'tabs `31.;aii`c1'3l may be folded'on their score lines'42 'whereby to bring these 'parts` tothe positions i`n"fvvhich theyV appear in Fig. 4. By bending the flaps 25 and 29 and wall I3 outwardly the upper sideof thev container is left completely open as shown in Fig. 5' so that the container may be easily'illled.' f" When the container has been iilled inner top Aflaps 25 and 29 are 'foldedrinwardly to lie on `the -merchandise and the top or cover, comprising the walls I8 and I3, is folded downto closed position. This necessitates the folding of Wall,

I6 on its fold line I9 to bring such wall (see Fig. 40 6) into a position over the naps 25 and 29. Then the wall I8 having previously been folded along line 22 is in position extending partly over the wall. I1. The relative positions Amay be somewhat fas in Fig. 9. J As shown in that gure the locking tabs 31 and 38 are partly entered into the vslits 5I and 52, it being understood that insofar laspossible such tabs are moved together. Now

the tabs 'are pushed entirely through the slits an the container is'sealed closed. 5`0

As this'occurs the inner ends of the tabs enter jun'der the'ed'ges of the' inner bottom flaps 24 and v28 and may force the latter slightly upwardly as s'ugg'e'sted'by 'the dotted lines in Fig. 9. Since 'siic'h 'flaps are cut away at 31 they do not come 55 "against the inner sides of the slits 5I and 52 and "donotinterfere with the initial movements of the tabsthrough the slits. The tabs enter 'through' the Islits closely adjacent tothe inner V'surface' of the bottom wall I5of Athe container 60 and lieagainst such wall when the container is closed. T -In 'order for the tabs to pass through the slits it is necessary for the heads 39 ofthe tabs to M be forced into curved condition, as in Fig. l0, whereby Vthe tabs follow the straight-lineandA the arcuate portionsof the slits. The heads of the tabs at their widestportions are'of too great a width to pass through the straight line portions of the slits. f Then when the heads have passed `throughthe slits the tabs tend to return to their normal or initial fiat condition and passing under the aps 24 vand 23 are Yreturned to such condition and the shoulders 4I of the tabsmove out of alignment with the curved portions of the slits 4 as suggested in Figs. '1, 8 and 11. Thus it will be clear that the inserted tabs may not be drawn back through the slits through which they have been inserted.

When the container is closed as suggested the free inner edges of the top naps 25 and 29 are closely adjacent as in Fig. 2 and the inner edges of the bottom aps 24 and 28 are similarly related. i ('See Figs. 2, 5 and 7.) Therefore it is impossible to reach in under theLtop wall I6 or over the bottom wall I5 and extract any of the i'- cjontents of the container. Likewise, it is impossible to accomplish pilering by the insertion of Av"an `instrument beneath or above walls I6 and I5, respectively. The said inner top and bottom chored at the rear of the container by being integralwith the back I4 and at their front ends the said end walls arel anchored since their in- "tegral inner fend flaps jYZBEand- 38"*arefsecured by ythe tabs35 and 36;` .Ifhsjthefend' wall'sfanot be pulled 'outfjor place and? the top `andbottom flaps and the inner-front flapsv` cannot be pulled out to expose the contents of the"y container'to pnfermgi.; L, q y

Attention is also directed-to the .fact that when the container is "locked orsealed closed Vthetabs 31 and 38 being in'placepreve'nt theltop lbeing raised andalsoprevent the bottom I5being pulled down or out unless the tabs 31 and 38'are broken. Since the bottom I5 cannot.` be pulled down and the tabs 35 and 36 cannot beV pulled Aout it will be clear that such aps'Z'B -and 30"'c'annot be released fromthe inner'frontwall.Y 'Thus when the tabs 31and 38have been inserted into looking positions through the slits 5I and 52 the container cannot be opened lexcept by tearing or breaking of the tabs 31 and 38 and in addition the contentsA of the .container cannot ber pilfered. g

Owing to the' fact of theirhaving been scored along Vthe lines 42 and therrfoldedandY to the fact that they are'relatively narrowin theirneck portions V40 `the tabs'31A and.38.ma`y be torn away Without great difficulty. The scoring along the lines 42 for the tabs 31 and 38 is cut scoring although they may` be' perforated or votherwise treated to weaken .theirconnections with the wall I8 so that on any tampering with'these tabs-'or the connections established by`fthem the tabs will readily become 'broken whereupon the consignee of the package will beclearlynotiedto be on his guard as the package has been tampered with. It will be understood that the invention is not limited'l to theV use of two tabs as 'shown as a single tab oraflarge multiple of tabs may'pbe used as may beV necessary' in any;gparticular`in stance. Having thussset forth the lnature of my invention, what I claim is:

A blank for a folding carton comprising foldably joined front, top,.rear and bottom panels; a pair of end panels foldably joined `tofopposed edges of saidrear panel, abottom ,ap foldably joined to each of saiderid panelspand adapted to substantially cover said' bottom panelY interiorly of the erectedcontainer, and a clearance recess in each of said bottom flaps at the outer edge thereof` including a frontr locking panel foldably related to an edge `ofvsaid bottom panel and having a pair of tabs for engaging a pair of locking flaps foldably-joined to said end panels whereby said box may be secured in erected but open top condition for filling, and a pair of locking slits provided in the fold line between said bottom panel and said locking panel,

including a pair of tabs foldably joined to a free Nurbzeoe edge of said front panel and insertable into said 1 067948 locking slits by virtue of the clearance provided' .5 1156444 by said clearance recesses in said bottom flaps. 1182585 FRANK R. CURTISS. qg'sg nEEEnENcEs CITED m ggg;

The following references are of record in the 2,181,432

111e of this patent: 2,306,328

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Woolsey Sept. 10, 1901 Streit 'July 22, 1913 Stevens Oct. 12, 1915 Richardson May 9, 1916 Scott Dec. 16, 1924 Engel Mar. 19, 1929 Junkin June 16, 1936 Maten et al. Nov. 3, 1936 Greve Nov. 28, 1939 Biberthaler Dec. 22, 1942 

